NURSES at Shumba clinic in Masvingo have resorted to using candlelight to assist delivering mothers, as power utility Zesa officials continue to dither in repairing a transformer that malfunctioned in 2014.
BY MUNESU NYAKUDYA
In an interview with NewsDay last week in Masvingo, Shumba clinic health care committee chairperson Ernest Chikava said they had lodged complaints with Zesa officials in the province, but no solution was forthcoming.
“We have had this problem since 2014. Zesa officials said the problem was the transformer. This whole area is connected, but for four years Zesa has been reluctant to solve the problem. We have visited their offices several times and they keep saying that they will send officials, but never show up,” Chikava said.
“The situation is deplorable. We even get to the extent where we have to buy candles for the nurses to use during the night. Even when they assist pregnant women to give birth, they have no choice but to use candles.”
Chikava said they had written a letter to the district administrator to inform him about the situation The clinic has two wards and some people have to travel long distances to the clinic.
“Some people walk very long distances to get assistance. They walk 16 to 20km, but there are satellite clinics. These clinics are not working because they do not have nurses despite the fact that they are fully furnished with running water and electricity,” he said.
“Our local councillor has made his consultations and there seems to be progress. He made proposals to the relevant authorities in 2015 and he has been doing follow-ups”.
